[Nfb-science] Louis Braille Coin to be Launched into Space on May 11
Freeh, Jessica
JFreeh at nfb.org
Fri May 8 00:27:15 UTC 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org
Louis Braille Coin to be Launched into Space on May 11
Commemorative Coin Will Fly on Space Shuttle Mission STS-125
125
Baltimore, Maryland (May 7, 2009): The 2009 Louis Braille
Bicentennial Silver Dollar, the first coin ever to feature readable
Braille, will fly on NASA space shuttle Atlantis on May 11,
2009. The coin will be launched into space on mission STS-125, which
will service NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar was released by the
United States Mint on March 26, 2009. Sales of the coin will be used
to support the National Federation of the Blind "Braille Readers are
Leaders" campaign. The campaign is a national initiative created to
double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015.
Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar symbolizes the
power of knowledge and future opportunities for blind children across
America. It is therefore fitting that this historic coin will be
part of a mission to uncover the secrets of the universe. Perhaps
someday a Braille reader will also be part of such a mission."
"NASA believes strongly in the importance of educational
opportunities for everyone," said Joyce Winterton, assistant
administrator for education at NASA headquarters in Washington. "That
is why we have partnered with the National Federation of the Blind to
help create programs that enhance scientific study for blind youth.
Launching the first coin to contain tactile, readable Braille into
space symbolizes NASA's commitment to the spread of knowledge by
every means and to every individual."
The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar is currently on
sale. Those interested in ordering a coin should visit
<http://www.usmint.gov/>www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT
(872-6468). For more information about the National Federation of
the Blind and the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, visit
<http://www.braille.org/>www.braille.org.
###
More information about the NFB-Science
mailing list